15 Facts About Chukwudifu Oputa

Chukwudifu Oputa was a Nigerian jurist who was Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from 1984 to 1989.

Chukwudifu Oputa was appointed in 1999 by Olusegun Obasanjo to head the Oputa panel which investigated human right abuses by former military juntas and submitted their findings in 2003.

Chukwudifu Oputa was born on 22 September 1916 in Oguta to Chief Oputa Uzukwu and Madam Nwametu Oputa.

Chukwudifu Oputa started his education at the Sacred Heart School, Oguta from 1930 to 1936 and then proceeded to the Christ the king College, Onitsha for his post primary education from 1937 to 1940 where he obtained his West Africa Senior School Certificate.

Chukwudifu Oputa then moved to London where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of London and then a degree in Law by 1953.

Chukwudifu Oputa was called to bar at the Bar-Gary Inn on 26 November 1953.

Chukwudifu Oputa came back to Nigeria where he set up a private law firm and practiced for years, handling multiple high-profile cases including the Oguta Chieftaincy Title dispute in 1959 and the Amayenabo dispute in 1960.

Chukwudifu Oputa was appointed a justice of the then High Court of Eastern Nigeria in 1966 and promoted to Chief Judge of Imo State in 1976.

Between 1971 and 1976, Chukwudifu Oputa served as a judge in the defunct East Central State and from 1976 to 1984 was High Court Judge of Imo State.

Chukwudifu Oputa was promoted to Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1984 where he served for 5 years before he retired in 1989.

Chukwudifu Oputa was recalled by Olusegun Obasanjo to head The Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission of Nigeria famously referred to as the Oputa panel to investigate human rights during the period of military rule from 1984 to 1999.

Chukwudifu Oputa was a devoted Catholic and honored as a Knight Commander of St Gregory the Great, Knight Commander of St Sylvester, and Knight of St Mulumba.

Chukwudifu Oputa published over 40 papers in lectures, conferences and seminars.

The Chukwudifu Oputa Foundation was created in his honor to promote accountable, transparent and respect for the rule of law.

Chukwudifu Oputa died on 4 May 2014 due to a minor illness.